If we spoke a different language, we would perceive a somewhat different world.
Ludwig WittgensteinRead
Propositions show what they say: tautologies and contradictions show that they say nothing.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Wittgenstein asserts that propositions convey meaning, while tautologies and contradictions lack informative content.
In this quote, Ludwig Wittgenstein emphasizes the nature of propositions in language, arguing that they have the ability to convey truth or meaning through their assertions. In contrast, tautologies and contradictions do not provide any actual information since they are inherently self-evident or logically inconsistent, illustrating the importance of meaningful content in communication and the limitations of language.
Themes
LanguagePropositionsMeaningTautologiesContradictions
In practice
Example use cases
In a philosophy class discussing language and meaning.
More from Ludwig Wittgenstein
All quotes βOne cannot guess how a word functions. One has to look at its use and learn from that. But the difficulty is to remove the prejudice which stands in the way of doing this. It is not a stupid prejudice.
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No one likes having offended another person; hence everyone feels so much better if the other person doesn't show he's been offended. Nobody likes being confronted by a wounded spaniel. Remember that. It is much easier patiently - and tolerantly - to avoid the person you have injured than to approach him as a friend. You need courage for that.
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It's impossible for me to say one word about all that music has meant to me in my life. How, then, can I hope to be understood?
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Nothing is so difficult as not deceiving oneself.
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My day passes between logic, whistling, going for walks, and being depressed. I wish to God that I were more intelligent and everything would finally become clear to me - or else that I needn't live much longer.
Ludwig WittgensteinRead
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